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UAE travel to the European Union: Soon without visa

May 4, 2015

UAE tourism and business travel to Schengen countries in the European Union will be easy and without a visa soon. UAE diplomacy has achieved another victory towards realizing a Schengen visa waiver, which will allow Emiratis visa-free travel to any of all the 28 Schengen states, said Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister.

“UAE Schengen waiver soon,” Shaikh Abdullah tweeted on Friday, attaching a video produced by the Foreign Ministry showing an animation of the Schengen countries UAE citizens will be allowed visa-free access to.

UAE citizens will be allowed access to 34 European countries [including 28 Schengen states. Countries include popular destinations such as Malta, Belgium, Germany,Greece, Sweden, and Finland. UAE citizens will be allowed to stay for 90 uninterrupted days, or 6 months with interruption. In emergencies, citizens need to coordinate with the UAE missions in these countries to negotiate longer stays.

Shaikh Abdullah thanked Sulaiman Al Mazroui, UAE Ambassador to the European Union, for his efforts and his team’s towards attaining this achievement.

The ambassador to the EU said the proposal to grant the UAE Schengen visa-free status was passed by the European Parliament in June last year, with 523 out of 577 votes.

Emiratis will in the next few days no longer require a visa for short stays (up to 90 days) in the Schengen area, whether for business, tourist or family visit purposes.

The UAE is the first Arab country, second in the Middle East, and third among Islamic countries whose citizens receive this visa waiver, said Al Mazroui, a diplomat who has been hard at work towards abolishing the travel restrictions imposed on UAE citizens.

Trade between the 28 members of the EU states and the UAE rose in 2012 by 9.7 per cent year-on-year and hit €45.4 billion, according to EU data.

UAE tourism – United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s fastest-growing destinations for business and leisure visitors. This is hardly surprising since geographically, economically and culturally, it is in a unique strategic position between East and West.

Perpetual sun, endless white sand and turquoise seas have helped to attract many tourists over the years, but it is the UAE’s unbeatable shopping, superb resorts, excellent restaurants, spectacular events, an intriguing traditional culture, and a safe and welcoming environment that lure visitors back time and time again.

Access has never been easier as the UAE is now a major travel hub. Today, the UAE’s rapidly expanding national airlines, a major success story in themselves, transport millions of visitors through its world-class airports, and visas are available on arrival for over 30 nationalities.

Huge investment has taken place in tourism infrastructure and all of the world’s top hotel brands are represented here. High-end resorts have proliferated and premium tourist and entertainment facilities are widespread. The UAE has also become a food-lovers’ delight with every conceivable cuisine available in its many restaurants, and celebrity chefs vying to open up new venues.

The country also continues to attract millions to major exhibitions at its many world-class exhibition centres, and feted sporting events in horse racing, golf, tennis and Formula 1, amongst others, bring many visitors to its shores. Some of the top names in the entertainment industry stage concerts and shows here, music and art festivals are regularly held, and cultural tourism is promoted. The latter will receive a major impetus when the Louvre Abu Dhabi opens its doors in 2015.

Improvement in public transport, including a new metro and tram line in Dubai, have helped enormously with getting around the UAE’s cities. But visitors are also venturing much further afield, discovering the delights of the country’s varied landscape and distinct natural beauty and visiting its spectacular deserts, rugged mountains and mangrove-fringed islands.

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